Protection of Wrecks Act 1973

Protection of Wrecks Act 1973
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to secure the protection of wrecks in territorial waters and the sites of such wrecks, from interference by unauthorised persons; and for connected purposes.
Citation1973 c. 33
Introduced byIain Sproat
Territorial extent United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent10 July 1973
Commencement10 July 1973
Other legislation
Amended byMarine (Scotland) Act 2010
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 (c. 33) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated shipwrecks.

Section 1 of the act provides for wrecks to be designated because of historical, archaeological or artistic value. Section 2 provides for designation of dangerous sites. Wreck sites must have a known location in order to be designated. Designated wrecks are marked on admiralty charts and their physical location is sometimes marked by means of a buoy (sea mark). Information boards are often provided at nearby launch points on land.